Birth Control Options: Exploring Methods for Contraception and Family Planning

Starting a family is a significant milestone, and it’s important to begin when you feel ready. If now isn’t the right time, birth control can be an essential tool in your planning. Dr. Charlene Collier and the clinical team at Haven Pregnancy, Wellness & Women's Health offers birth control solutions and other OBGYN services in Ridgeland, MS.

What You Need to Know About Birth Control Options

When choosing birth control, consider a few essential factors to ensure it fits well with your lifestyle. Your birth control method should be:

• Convenient and easy to use
• Effective at preventing pregnancy until you’re ready
• Discreet and suitable for your daily routine

Here are some birth control options available:

• Condoms: Always an important part of family planning as they are the only method that can help prevent sexually transmitted infections.

• Spermicide Gel: Cream or gel that can be inserted vaginally shortly before sex to stop sperm from reaching the egg. Phexx is a prescription only spermicide that may be right for you. 
• Natural Family Planning: Methods that do not use medication, but rely upon your calendar cycle, body tempurature and even cervical mucus to determine when to avoid sex to prevent pregnancy. Check out Natural Cycles website for one new solution. 
• Birth Control Pills: Convenient, portable, and effective birth control pills work by continuously releasing hormones to prevent pregnancy.

• Contraceptive Skin Patches: Skin patches are easy to use and do not require daily reminders. They gradually release hormones to prevent pregnancy.

• Vaginal Rings: This option offers portability and is inserted into the vagina, releasing hormones to prevent pregnancy.

• Birth Control Injections: Administered at three-to-six-month intervals, these injections release hormones gradually, providing consistent pregnancy prevention.

• Birth Control Implants: A small, rod-like device implanted in the upper arm that releases hormones and can be effective for up to three years.

• Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): IUDs containing either hormones or copper are placed inside the uterus. Hormonal IUDs can be effective for three to five years, while copper IUDs can last up to 10 years.

Check out Bedsider.org for reliable information on contraception.

Do You Want to Know More About Birth Control Options?

To learn more about birth control options and determine which solution may best suit your needs, call Haven Pregnancy, Wellness & Women's Health at (601) 707-3970.